Gun-camera.



T. H. SHERMAN.

GUN CAMERA.

AYPLICATION FILED mm. m, 1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET Inventor Attorneys T. H. SHERMAN.

GUN CAMERA.

AYPLIOATIOH rnllzn 28.12. 1914.

Patented Nov. 24, 191

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

M N MM Witnes ses Attorneys n4: NORRIS PEYERS co. PNOYO-LI'INO WASNINCION o. c

' moving objectsyas well as' birds, animals,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

THOMAS HENRY SHERMAN, or TRAVERSE our; MICHIGAN.

' erun-CAMERA To all whomxit may concern:- 1

which' the following is. a specificatioinh?! :The present invention appertains to'a camera, and aims to provide afinovel and improved contrivance of that character.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a photographie' 'device, in the form of a gun carrying:a-cameraflwhereby the device may :be:- readily ma'nipulated for' tak- I I1 and illustrating thesamms engagedflto the ing snap shots of birds-in motion, or'other and other. objects, at-rest.

- detail of the filni, e21 .iis w.

"It isithe object-0f the present invention t0'-% provide a gun camera which may be em ployed by boys or children as a toy gun,- and which" maybe employed by sportsmen,

hunters, and other-gunners, for=the purpose camera at themuzzle end ofthe barrel, the Y camera being arranged to hold a film, and

means being provided for operating the lens shutter of the camera; and-for-feeding' the film after each exposure, whereby the gun camera will be of 'the repeater type.-

With the foregoing-general objects outlined, and with other objects in view, which will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the present inven-- specificati oh of Letters Patent. 1 4; --'Application filed February 12, 1e14. Seria1 No.818,407. i

plan view of the device, portions being broken? away. Figs; 3 and l' uricross sections-of the' barrel-, taken on the. lines 'and respectively of Fig- 1 '5 ,5 5 is an enlargedjf from viewof the ;eamera.*-- Fig. 6 is a-sectional viewj ofthe' camera as' attached to the muzzle endjof the gun-'barrelrf' Fig. -7 is a bottomvi'ew the-tantra? Fig. :8 is" afsectional detail taken oii thelihe 6 0 8-'-8 of Fig-5. 9"san enlarged' sec tional detail taken omthline 9496f Fig'7 Fig. 10 is a'perspe'cti ve detail-of tl1ef' frefe" end of one of the hinged 'straps' forihblding the film reels or spools and: the guide rollers;

keepers Fig- 11 a fragmental 'viewiin y igmw thepre sent invention- ,1

there is provided'qi gum-of simple-and inex-"WO pensive constructiom-" embodying the wooden stock 1-, and the sheetmetal barrel-2,;which has its breech end in threaded engagement with the "stock? w'hereby themay 'be separated for compact carriage 'o'r handling ition' resides in the combination-and arrangecise embodiment of theinvention herein dis-- closed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit i within the tmbe 10,-a second tube 10":being' of the invention. g

The invention has been'illustrated portions being-shown in full." Fig. 2 is a in one of its preferred embodiments in the accom The camera, 'which*' is designated generally bythe numeral 3, is'carried the muzzle end 'ofthe' gun-barrel 2,;and'wi1l -be de-f" scribed in deta'ilf hereinafter? The stoclr l'isprovided-at the breech end of the barrel-with; a chamber -or recessA' in which is pivoted atri-gger 5, and afbulb 6 is disposed within the chamber 4: below the presser carried by .the trigg er 5 within the said chamber; 'The presserf'Z is connected by -means-of aretractilespring 8 to the-top o f the chamber 4' for returning the trigger and its presser to normal or inoper-' 1 ative position.- To the bulb 6 is attached the tubing 9'whichextends through the gun barrel% for connection with the cameraas will hereinafter appear. r

A longitudinal guide tube lO-is secured to the bottom of the muzzle end of the barrel 2, and a reciproeatory rod "ll'is slidable secured to the bottom of the breech end of the barrel and receiving the inner end of the rod 11, and the rod 11- having a handle or hand hold 13 working'within the opening between the tubes 10 and 10 and normally resting against therear end of the guide tube 10. A coiled wire compression spring 12 is disposed within the tube 10, the rod 11 having a pin or collar 14 within the tube 10 against which the spring seats, to .yieldably-a'dvance' th'erodl'l? fihe rod 11 is arr'anged to actuate "the film,""as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The stock 1 is .provi'dediwith-a pair ofbores, 15, normally closed by pivoted closures or caps 16, whereby one of the bores may be employed as a magazine for holding" a wplu'r ahtj 'of-une vposed *rolls er films,

while the other bore may be. employed for holding the exposed rolls or films, as will 15 be Ee 1idenf I v Returning-to thdconstruc'tion of the camera.3 per se, the same ,embodies a suitable. ease- 17 ha ving'the removable top 18,:whichis preferably; arranged to snap into engage- 20 ment with the walls of the-case 17, similar toia watc h cover with aavatch case, 'Itwvill be appare'nt, ;however that the cover or top of.;the -,,case l7- may be irendered removable in variousmanners. The; bottom 18 of thecase is ;also preferably rendered removable,

5 sight :21 permits the gun to be'readily leveledavitha bird in flight, or other moving object, to therebyfacilitate the proper positioning of theeamera.

In attaching the camera 49 muzzle end of the gun, the back of the case ll-is provided with a stem 22 engaging through a central aperture provided in the plate 23 secured to the muzzleend of the gun barrel 2, the plate 23 being provided with/side ears Qto which are bolted or otherwise secured the ears'25 projecting fronrthe backof ,the case 17,- at the sides :thereof. In this manner, the camera is read ily attaehedto the muzzle of the gun, and

may be readily removed or detached when desired. The front wall of the case 17 is provided with -a suitable rapid lens 26 embodying a sensitive or: quick-acting shutter, and a blackened cone 27 extends between the lens and shutter 26 to the back wall of the case 17, the apex of the cone 27 being attached to the front wall of the case, while the large e'nd thereof, is preferably attached to the, bottom of the case to be supported thereby. The shutter actuator 28 has connected thereto,. the forward'end of the tube 9, which is passed downwardly through the muzzle end of the barrel 2 and below the camera case .17. It-will-be evident use. mounted zuponzspin dles 33fjournaled through case 17 to the at this point, that when the trigger 5 is actuated, the bulb 6 will be compressed by the presser 7, to thereby actuate the lens shutter, the bulb 6 opening or returning to normal ositiQmZQafterE, the trigger is 're- 7 leased? A pair of guide rollers 29 are mounted xvithin 'the casefli at the edrners between the sides and back of the case, and having the lower ends of their spindles or shafts 29 j'ournaled or trunnioned to the bottom of the ease, and'the sensitized film 30 fia'sssbvef the rollers w ig haclg of the cone 27 along the back of the case 17, or between the back normally -:-Wo11hd-. upon the 'reelor spool 31 disposed :at' one- -.s,i,d 3i .Qfl the cone 27, andis. r arranged to be. mound; uponar reel or spool 32 at t e; other side; o the1.one,; similar to .v the prevailingi types O'fi1m :CameIfiS ,now :in .'8 5

13 5 3 51595?! spools 1. and 3 are the;,bottom;0f the-case adjoiningatheisides thereof, "andgai :pair :o'\straps :34: :arej hinged to one,sidemfnt lmacase ill-,- and=,%hav;e their free endsa nmng d'i mbe engaged by ;keepers or-sockets- 35;;attached theother: side 5. of th le'asjet- E h-Bi straps onvgbars. 34=.;ha g p tures. for moeivfi gvithe; {uppers ends. of; the spindles 29?:and 3,3,vrespectively. l hus, when the straps or .bars534;; -are swungtint/0; place, atheyiw ilt maintain the; reels onspools 31 and=32;:i:nipofiitibn upQn-uthe spindles} 33,, and rwill also ;maintain the guidek'rollers place,,a11d ,when' theastraps. onstrips share 1100 raised or. swung'aipwandl they, will release the reels,'-;w-,hereby theiree 32,-containing-the V exposed film m'ay be withdrawm'toubewreplaced by the emptied spool 31, and where-h i, by anotherirol l zofz film may be substituted for the-,removedg'eel onspool,31. Therollers 29 being releasedaby the respective strap 3 1, will permitmhe film to .be readily. trained-,- over the said, rollers and behind the cone 27, I

in order that the freeend of the .film maybe attached; to ,the; empty-spool or reel, as shown in Fig. 6. ,iOrdinarily when the top or cover of the case is inplaee,--:thesame will lock the straps or strips 34-in-;position, so that when the taper .cover is removed, the-straps 3% may be-swung out of engagement with the rollers 29;.and :Spindles 33, respectively. The spindles 33 are each provided with a key 36 ;adjoining the bottom of the case 17,'- while thereels qrg spoolsfil and32 are provided with keyi-seats or notches 36 .130 engage over theukeys 36,. whereby the reels or spools will bra-constrained to rotate with the spindles, the reels or spools being reversible so that theymay beapplied from onespindle to the -other,-.as is understood in the art.

In order to prevent-the retrograde-movement of the spindles 29 and 33, ratchet wheels 37-are secured orkeyed upon the said spindles adjoining the bottomof the case,

said spindle 33: .below the bottom of the case i 17., a'nda-gear wheel or pinion 40 is mounted loosely ;on: the said sp'indle between the ratchet wheel 39 and the-bottom of the case,

msp'ringcpmSSed pawl: or dog '41 being carried-by the bottom of the pinionto yield ably engage--the:ratchet; wheel 39 :for .per-

mittingthe pinion todrive the ratchet wheel,

' as will; hereinafter appear.-

kiTothe lower extremity of-one spindle 29,

preferably-at that side of thexcase opposite to the ratchet wheel 39 and;pinion 40, is"

keyed omjsecured-an escapenient wheel or disk; 4.2; having diametrically opposite shoulders; 43, cooperating with a spring pressed 'pawl-origdog 44-pivoted to the bottomiofathe easel-'1, the detent, pawl-or dog --being;spring;:pressed to normally engage 0'-'OI 16 orgthe other of the shoulders 43, 60 prevent; the reverse rotation ofw-the roller 29, whereby jhelfilm .will befprevented from or-' di'narily uiirolling fromlthespool or reel 3].. The. dog or ipawl '44 has its free end cooperating---with a-:cam formed upon one side oithe actuating rod 11 which rod pro ects under and-beyond the bottom of the camera. Ordinarily, when the rod 11 is advanced or in its, normal position, the cam 45 will stand 49? ing-advance. of or adjoining the free end of thet'pawl-or dog 44,-whereby, when the rod is drawnrearwardly, the pawl or dog 44 will be released from the respective shoulder 43 joithe e'scapement wheel 42. The for- 45 ward end portion ofthe rod 11 is provided with a rack 48 at' the side opposite that side having the cam=.45, therac'k 48' being normally slightly v in advanceof the gear or pinion 40, and being'adapted to intermesh 5-3 with the said gear or pinion when the rod is drawn rearwardly or inwardly. The for ward end portion of the rod 11 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 46 through whichscrewsor other fastening devices'47 -are-pas'sed,so.-as to engage the bottom of the case-.17, whereby the forward end por tion of the rod 11 may be properly guided for cooperation with the pinion 40 and the pawl or dog 44.

His preferable to provide a presser roller .29 cooperating with the roller 39 having the escapement wheel 42,-the lower'ends of the spindles of the said rollers being geared together, as'at 29" whereby the rollers will "revolveinfunison iii-opposite directions, the

said rollers snugly receiving the film there between to prevent the film from slipping when the escapement wheel 42 is held by the detent or pawl 44. j

-In -practice, thecamera 3 is of miniature '10 construction," and the fihn 30 is preferably ofa length to take a number of'exposures," say, twenty-five or fiftyfl Thefilm's-are wound upon the reels or spools infthe ordijj nary manner, and a reel orSpool o'ffi'lm' :na be readily-applied within the-casing 1'7 of thecamera as above intimated, and as illustrated at 31' in Fig. 6'. Tliefree'end of the film may then be readily trained over the guide rollers '29 to -be attached'to -the'. empty reel or spool 32 Thus, after" the straps or strips are swung back' to place, and the top or cover'of the easel? is againposi tioned, the device is-in-condition"'for use" i The object which is to be '=-photographed', 351' may be quickly brought into the -field of-the camera, by aiming the gun throughf the'me;

dium of the sights-20 and 2l so tlialtwhen the gun is properly aimed at thefobject, the" shutter may be actuated by pulli ng 'the trigger, as above described: ;i-"It .f-'i S"-to be understood that before thefilm is" exposed; the same is properly wound "upon the-empty 1 spool 32, to bring an unexposedportioir' in rear of the cone 27', thecone 27 confining the light rays, and producing a" circular image or picture. After the I first picture or snapshot'has been taken, the film maybe fed or advanced one step, by drawing the rod 11 rearwardlyg through the medium of-the handle or hand piece 13, whereby the cam45 will-firstre lease the pawl or dog 44 from thee'sqape-' lnent'wheel 42, in-orderthat-the film-may uuroll from the reel or spool31; -Then, as

the rod 11 is moved rearwardlyfarther, the" rack 48 will engage with the pinion'or gear 40 after the escapement wheel 42'-has been released, in order that the film may bewound upon the reel or spool 32, the move 1110 ment of the pinion 4O imparting arotary movement to the pawl or dog 41 carried thereby and the pawl engaging theratchet wheel 39"will' rotate the respective spindle and the reel or spool 32 thereon in the proper direction to wind up the film. As soon as the film commences to unwind from the reel or spool 31, the cam 45 having passed the pawl 44, the pawl or dog 44 will r again engage the periphery OfLthe escapement wheel 42, so as to be engaged by the. approaching shoulder 43, when the film is unwound for one-half a turn of the respective guide roller 29, whereby'the feeding or advancing of the film will be properly limited to bring a-new unexposed portion in rear of the cone 27."

\Vhen the rod 11 is released, the same will be returned to normal position, by the spring 12, the-pinion 40 being rotated -re-'- pawl 44, without-interfering with ithe; es-

capement wheel 42. V; y I

5 In the manner indicated, the operationof the..device;-in'ay be repeated rapidly, the

stock L-being held steady against the shouldeigiinworder thatthe trigger 5 maybe op-.

eratedby the -forefinger of the right :hand, whilertherfilnbactuatingrod 11- may be manipulated by vthe; left hand. After the successive exposures iofi the *film have been made, the film maybewconip'letely wound upon the spool 32,:iihe-said spool :may then be removed and placed in the proper bore or receptacle-of the stock, and a new roll or spool may be removed from the magazine of the stock 1, and then placed in the camera, -as will be apparent without further description. 4 1

VThe-Jpresent contri-vance 'is "adapted for numerous uses. Theldevice may be employed as a toy by boys -or childrengfor shooting rfbach other, -or for shooting birds, animals, and otherzmoving or stationary objects, the present device providing a harmless, amusing and'instructive substitute for ordinary air rifles or fire arms. lVhen-the films are developed, and positives or prints made, the hits may be determined by the proximity of the objects photographed, to the center of the positives or pictures, which will render the developing of the pictures -or positives interesting. If desired, lantern slides may be developed from the negatives, to be thrown upon a screen by a magic lantern or stereopticon, to the amusement of the'observers, and by placing a hairline target in connection with the lanternEslide, or upon the film as seen in Fig. 11, the object photographed will be shown upon thescreen with the target, to clearly indicate the proximity of the object photographed with the center or bulls eveof the target. The present device may also be employed by sportsmen, hunters, and gunners, as a practice gun, for sharp shooting, to thus develop the skill of the user as a win; shot,--without the annoyance, expense, and danger incident to the ordinary fire arm. The present device may also be employed in sham battles and army maneuvers toadvantage, the hits of the opposing sides being determined after the negatives are developed.

v .The' many=other capabilities of thepresent contrivance will be obvious to the user, and need not be itemized at length, it being-noted that the present device provides'a' desirable one of the character set forth, .for'the'sev eral uses to which it may be adapted.

-.Ha ving thus described-the'invention, what isiclaimed asinew is 1 1551; H1; A-deviceofithe character described em.-' bodyin g 2a stock .and barrel, a camera carried by theimuzzle end .=of the'ibarrel andiiiclud-i ing .zfilm holding and controlling meansand shutter operating :means, the stock having a chambertrat the breechiendi o'=-the ba;rrel; a

bulb .disposed in said chamber, a"-fiube"eon necting the bulb and shutter operating-. means, wztniggein pivoted Within*the said' chamber, and having a' presser' cooperating with the shnlby'rmnd actuating means carried by; the 5 gun and operatively' connected to the filmcontrollingfmeans. "n -1 '2. ilna'device 'o-f-Ithe character describedg a camera including :a pair of holding ineakis for Ffirlm reels, dete'xitiimeans for normally preventing the film "from;feeding; actuating? means cooperating-With one reel-holding means, and actuating meanscodp'erati-ng with the aforesaid detent and actuating means for successively releasin the film and operating filie'irespectiveireel ho diixig means. 3. {11a device "of-the chalract'er described; a. camera, meek-holding sand guide ispindles carried 'by' the camera, detent=means ope'r ati-ng with one 'Espindle, actuating means cooperating with the' detent means to release the sameifromthe saiid spindle, and coiip'erating means carried by the actuating means and one of thez'reel holding 's'pin'dle'sffor ac tuating the last mentionedsp indle' after the first mentioned spindle 'is released. l

4-. In a device of the character described, a camera, reel holding and guide spindles carried by the camera, an escapement wheel carried by one-guidespindle, a detent cooperating with the escapement 'wheeL aznd actuating means cooperating with "the said detent and one reel holding spindle for successively releasing the detent and actuating the last mentioned spindle.

5. In a :device of the'charaoter described, a camera, a pair of reel holding spindles carried by the camera, a ratchet wheel carried by one spindle, a. pinion mounted loosely upon'the' said spindle, a pawl movable with the pinion .and cooperating with the ratchet wheel, and an actuating rod having a rack operating with the other spindle to actuate as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signathe same when the pinion is rotated in one ture in the presence of two Witnesses. direction, and an actuating rod having a. cam and rack for successively cooperating 5 with the detent and pinion, respectively, to Witnesses:

release the detent and actuate the pinion. CHARLES F. HUNTER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing CARL M. Norm.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

